With Darnell Nurse now with the San Jose Sharks, the Edmonton Oilers have at least a couple of things left to figure out for next season.

For one, who’s taking over the music? Nurse has long been known as the Oilers’ locker-room DJ, getting the team fired up before games. But more importantly, who will replace him as one of the team’s alternate captains?

Nurse became an alternate captain for the Oilers in the 2019-20 season, with both he and Leon Draisaitl joining the team’s leadership group. They joined Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who has sported an “A” on his chest since the 2013-14 season, and Connor McDavid, who became captain in 2016.

With that in mind, below is a list of the Oilers’ four best candidates to fill the alternate captain role left vacant by Nurse.

Zach Hyman

A big candidate for the next alternate captaincy is Zach Hyman, who has occasionally stepped in and worn the “A” when other alternate captains have been sidelined with injuries.

That said, ever since signing on in Oil Country in 2021, Hyman has been a leader in every aspect. Whether it’s scoring goals, doing the dirty work in the corners, leading the team in playoff hits, or being a vocal presence in the room, Hyman has consistently shown what leadership looks like.

Also, after the Oilers’ 2-1 Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final in 2024, Hyman was one of the players who helped the team hold their heads high, saying, “I [expletive] know we’re going to be back to it, I know it with my [expletive] heart.” And wouldn’t you know it, he was right — the Oilers returned to the Stanley Cup Final the following season.

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Powerful words from Zach Hyman moments after the Oilers’ Game 7 Stanley Cup Final loss. . (Via: @EdmontonOilers)

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12:52 PM · Aug 9, 2024

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Additionally, with or without a letter on his chest, the former 50-goal scorer is already viewed as a leader.........

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